Pablo Hernandez has ignored interest from Birmingham City and signed a new contract with Leeds United.

The 33-year-old playmaker has been heavily tipped to reunite with former manager Garry Monk at Blues in the summer.

However, the Spaniard has extended his stay at Elland Road and agreed a new two-year contract.

Hernandez was two matches away from walking away from Leeds on a free transfer and head coach Paul Heckingbottom recently admitted he feared the player’s head could be turned.

Leeds' boss told LeedsLive: "I've had chats with Pablo in terms of football, him himself, us as a club and everything was positive.

"Pablo's driven by football rather than money and things like that, he's driven by his heart. He likes it here, his family's settled here. So things like that are positive, always.

"But there could be other people turning his head, speaking in those terms with him, trying to capture his heart at other clubs and that's the position we find ourselves in because of his contract situation.

"So we'll try as hard as we can. He knows where I stand on it and that's it, that's all we can do."

Read More

In the chase

Birmingham City are reportedly considering a move for Wes Hoolahan this summer.

The Irishman will become a free agent at the end of the season when his contract at Norwich City runs out. When that happens, it’ll end his ten-year association with the Canaries, for whom he has made 350 appearances.

The nimble attacking midfielder, who has more than 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has scored more than 50 times for the Norfolk side and will leave a legend.

It’s believed that, despite offers, Hoolahan has no intention of returning to play in the League of Ireland just yet as he feels he is fit and good enough to continue in the upper reaches of English football - even at 35.

Hoolahan, who scored a wonderful goal for his nation as they drew with Sweden 1-1 at Euro 2016, is in the thoughts of Garry Monk this summer, reports the Irish Sun .

The veteran said recently: “It’s been a great ten years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself at this club and it’s going to be an emotional day on Saturday against Leeds.

“My ten years have been brilliant, with a lot of ups and downs.

“It will be strange to leave this club after ten great years but you have to move on. The fans have been amazing to me, the club have been great and I’m going to miss the place."

Monk has almost confirmed safety and another Championship campaign in his short time at Blues - another result in one or both of their final matches against QPR and Fulham will solidify their status - and will begin preparations for the summer transfer window in the near future.

The boss will look to make his mark on the squad he inherited, built from a mixture of buys from Harry Redknapp, Gary Rowett and Lee Clark.